Gold–phosphine–porphyrin as potential metal-based theranostics

Two new gold-phosphine-porphyrin derivatives were synthesized and fully characterized, and their photophysical properties investigated along a water-soluble analog. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested on cancer cells (HCT116 and SW480), and their cell uptake was followed by fluorescence microscopy in vitro (on SW480). The proof that the water-soluble gold-phosphine-porphyrin is a biologically active compound that can be tracked in vitro was clearly established, especially concerning the water-soluble analog. Some preliminary photodynamic therapy (PDT) experiments were also performed. They highlight a dramatic increase of the cytotoxicity when the cells were illuminated for 30 min with white light. Graphical Abstract